It's time for the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge!! This incredible initiative created by the amazing @jabberwocky888 is a big bookish highlight of my year. It celebrates some of the most amazing women writers in Ireland and I can't wait to start sharing my favourites!

Day 1 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge: A Book that had a twist

Ghost in the Throat by @DoireannNiG

A combination of memoir and historical research, this book tells the story of Ní Gríofa's journey of translating an epic poem as Gaeilge, with themes of motherhood and identity.

This book will tear your heart open. It is beautifully written and passionate. I never saw the conclusion coming and it's safe to say I haven't been the same since reading it. Worthy of every awards it's received - go read it!

Day 2 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge: Most anticipated read

Hani and Ishu's Guide to Fake Dating by @adiba_j

Hani and Ishu couldn't be less alike - and they definitely don't like each other. But when fates collide and they pretend to date each other, things start to get messy

With two super cool WOC protagonists, this queer enemy to lovers YA novel ticks all the boxes for me.

I ADORED Adiba Jaigirdar's debut novel and I have a good feeling I will be a big fan of her writing for years to come.

Out May 2021

Day 3 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge : A character you'd love to meet

Saoirse from The Falling in Love Montage by @CiaraNicG

Saoirse doesn't believe in falling in love, but then meets Ruby. They agree to just have a casual summer together, filled with romcom clichés, until...

An iconic wlw YA romcom that was one of my favourites in 2020. I adore Saoirse, she is cool, sweet, and honestly hilarious and I want to give her a big hug. A brilliant read, highly recommended!

Day 4 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge: A book about motherhood

Corpsing: My Body and Other Horror Shows by Sophie White

A collection of essays on motherhood, death, addiction, mental illness, and a bit of horror for good measure (the blood chapter is the best omg)...!

This book is amazing - it is as all the reviews say: brutally honest, witty, and so incredibly written. I've mentioned this before but we're so lucky to have Irish women writers like White who help pave the way for vital conversations about what it means to be a mother in Ireland

Day 5 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge: A book where illness (physical/mental) is a part of the story

Needlework by @propermiss

Needlework is a girl’s meditation on her efforts to maintain her bodily and spiritual integrity in the face of abuse, violation and neglect.

This book is just wow. It's a YA novel, with the most beautiful prose I think I've ever read. It's a very tough, but important, book: exploring the effect of mental illness during/after abuse, within a female family dynamic (between a mother and daughter). An absolute must-read!

Day 6 of #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book by an Irish WOC

The Henna Wars by @adiba_j

Nishat and Flávia are rivals at school, but Nishat can’t help the secret crush burning in her heart – even though her parents disapprove of the fact she likes girls.

Aw folks this book is just I absolutely devoured it. Super wholesome, whilst dealing with difficult themes of racism and homophobia masterfully. I especially adored the relationship between sisters Nishat and Priti, it's super heartwarming. A fab debut, I'm excited for more

Day 7 of #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book set during interesting times

Spare and Found Parts by @griffski

In a city devastated by an epidemic, Nell has always been an outsider. She finds a lost mannequin’s hand while salvaging on the beach, and inspiration strikes (YA)

Dublin, but apocalyptic. One of my all time favourites, this book is a brill combo of eery and enticing. The writing is iconic, every word is carefully, perfectly crafted. My favourite scene has to be exploring the transformed ruins of the @LightHouseD7 after the world half-ends

Day 8 of #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book that takes place in spring

Eva and the Perfect Rain by @TatyanaFeeney

... I'm just going to assume this is springtime for the sake of a tough prompt! Exactly what it says on the tin, Eva is on a mission to find the perfect rain!

A really gorgeous book with such an inspired artistic style that perfectly suits the story. This brilliant, bright, and colourful picturebook is the perfect springtime read

Day 9 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book that brings you joy

Once Upon a Reader by @lorrainelevis

Ex-bookseller and children’s book expert Lorraine Levis teaches us how to find the books that speak to young people of all ages.

I love this book. I'd love any book that opens up the discussion about the importance of children's literature for a wider audience. But I particularly love Lorraine's work, with its focus on Irish lit and encouragement of stories for children in all forms, including video games!

Day 10 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a play

Room by @EDonoghueWriter

An adaptation of her iconic novel about 5 yo Jack, who lives in a single room with his Ma and has never been outside.

I went to see this play in the @AbbeyTheatre in 2017 and it really is amazing. I'm in awe at how Donoghue has a fantastic understanding of translating a story between mediums and shows how to bring out the best of the story she's created with the tools at hand

Day 11 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book you could quote from

A Sailor Went to Sea Sea Sea by @sarahwebbishere (illustrated by @mrstevemccarthy)

A wonderful collection of your favourite rhymes from an Irish childhood

So, in all honesty, I couldn't quote from a book if my life depended on it, so this is a bit of a cheat. This really is a beautiful picturebook and has the incredible power of unlocking memories of rhymes I didn't even know I knew off my heart...! Very much a book of a lifetime

Day 12 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book set in a place you'd love to visit

On Midnight Beach by @Marielouisefit1

A retelling of Irish mythology, Emer, Fee, Kit and Dog Cullen befriend a dolphin in Carraig Cove and sneak down to visit it every midnight (YA)

Honestly I was living vicariously through this book for a while. It is an ultimate dream of mine to be able to swim in the sea at midnight and alongside wild dolphins like honestly could it get any cooler than that?

Day 13 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: an old favourite

The Blue Horse by Marita Conlon-McKenna (illustrated by Donald Teskey)

A story of a young girl from the Traveller community: Katie's whole world is turned upside down when her family's home is destroyed by fire.

This was - I think! - the first book I ever read by an Irish woman author. It is a beautifully profound book and I credit it as one of the most formative pieces of literature that has influenced my worldview even to this day. I must reread it soon!

Day 14 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a beautiful book

The Pooka Party by @ShonaShirleyMac

The Pooka is a magical shapeshifter who realises that it's lonely and hasn't seen its friends in ages! After having some time to think, the Pooka decides to throw a big party.

This is a stunning picturebook and is one of my favourites. I love the colours, the tiny details, the fun-filled story - it's all just fab

Day 15 of #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a banned or censored book

The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien

Kate Brady and Baba Brennan are growing up in a repressive Irish village after World War II. Kate is a romantic, looking for love; Baba is a reckless survivor

So! I've not read this book (the only one in this challenge I haven't read!) but I've heard great things about it and honestly anything that was banned / censored is immediately fascinating to me

Day 16 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book by an author you've met

Elsetime by @Eve_Mc_Donnell

Timeslips! Crows! Based on The Great Flood of 1928 at the Thames, this is a story of two misfits (a poor mudlark from 1864 and an jeweller’s apprentice in 1928) (Ages 9+)

I met Eve while working on WonderFest last winter. The queen of spreadsheet-making, it was so lovely to get to know her! She's super kind and is dedicated to all things children's literature and to telling stories that matter. I look forward to seeing her grow as a writer

Day 17 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a photo of your #RIWC2021 tbr pile

Everything by everyone

Just... So... Many... Books. I'm not stressed about reading them all, you are

(this is literally just my Irish women authors tbr pile....)

Day 18 of #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book with a young protagonist

The Deepest Breath by @megcathwrites

Stevie is eleven and loves reading and sea-creatures. She's been best friends with Andrew since forever. But there’s a girl at school that she likes more. A lot more.

This is one of my all time favourite books. Stevie is such a sweetheart and the relationship between her and her mam is just so wholesome. A really beautiful verse novel, I so wish there were more books like this when I was younger (age 9+ years)

Day 19 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book you want to tell everyone about

Scúnc agus Smúirín by @MuirNiChiobhain (illustrated by @paddydonnelly)

Baby skunk has a teddy that is his comforter that has a VERY peculiar smell until one day it dissappears after a wash...!

I adore this book so much it's so cute. My Irish is pretty weak so I don't say this lightly but if you were to ever read a book as Gaeilge then it has to be this one. It's a super sweet and fun story that everyone should read

Day 20 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: an anthology

Twilight Together by @ruthlessimagery

Visually stunning and deeply moving, she has photographed people all over Ireland at their front window at dusk, each with their own story to tell.

Bending the rules slightly for this one (every photo tells a story right?)
This is a fab collection of photos taken during the first lockdown. The combination of brilliant technical skill & intuition has gifted us this time capsule of a book which will leave a remarkable legacy.

Day 21 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book with illustrations

I'm doing something a bit different today. There are several books I wanted to include so I listed them all in this separate thread here:

https://twitter.com/rurooie/status/1384877017179508736?s=19

Day 22 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book of poetry

Hopscotch in the Sky by @lucindajwriter (illus. by @oneillustration)

A collection of original, contemporary children's poems that merge and flow like the seasons from spring to winter.

I adore this book. The poems are sweet and funny and so imaginative. I think the illustrations might be some of my favourites of all time. I love this book so much I wrote my dissertation on it. More poetry books for children like this please!!

Day 23 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a memoir / biography

Notes to Self by @emiliepine.

Essays on birth and death, the grief of infertility, caring for her alcoholic father, taboos around female bodies and female pain, sexual violence and violence against the self.

(I'm including both covers because I adore the original from Tramp Press)
This book changed my course of my reading habits - I read bios/essays now! If you haven't already read it, get on it, it's one of the best books you'll ever read. It's required reading now, because I say so

Day 24 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: podcast featuring women's writing

Forever YA podcast ( @ForeverYAPod) by @epic_ciara and @aifekearnsmch

A podcast filled with book chats focusing on YA novels? Yes please??

This is a super fun podcast. Ciara and Aífe's dynamic is perfect for this podcast. They chat about The Henna Wars, Savage Her Reply, Queen of Coin and Whispers, and more! It's so lovely to have a podcast that discusses Irish YA books in such depth and with so much enthusiasm

Day 25 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021:

Míp by @MyraZepf (illus. by @paddydonnelly)

Another picturebook written as Gaeilge: Robots, space, music, and fun! What more could you need?

This story is so charming, heartwarming and funny. Another fab book for Irish language readers of any ability and any age

Day 26 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a great online literary festival

The @DublinBookFest

I might be a bit biased but I think this is one of the best literary festivals in Ireland...! This festival is led by a fab team including some awesome women, in November each year

I first volunteered with DBF in 2017 and it was my first step in the Irish lit community. It's a brilliant festival with events for all. In fact, if you are interested in starting out in this industry, they have an internship available (deadline May 6th)!
https://dublinbookfestival.com/join-the-dbf-team-3/

Day 27 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: a book where weather plays a role

Savage Her Reply by @propermiss (illus. @karenmvaughan)

You know the spiel at this stage (and if you haven't, where have you been?): a retelling of The Children of Lir through Aífe's eyes. Go read it

I picked this for today's prompt because the hardships that the children face during their 300 years in stormy weather is such a pivotal moment. I think it solidifies the relationship between Aífe + Fionnuala, filled with grief + guilt, which, to me, is an emotional core of SHR

Day 28 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021

Fantasy night out! With @propermiss @griffski @moirawithatrema @hcor

I really enjoyed reading these four YA books close together - all the vibes - so a magical, eery, and dramatic night out sounds super fun to my lockdown brain rn

QOCAW - central sapphic romance, political intrigue, danger, light fantasy

OWFS - cats and owls, magic, creepy house, neon, more sapphics

Accident Season - Halloween, family, ghosts, superstition, magic?

PPD - castle, mystery, witchcraft, creeps, gore, kittens, more sapphics

Day 29 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: an inclusive book

All the Bad Apples by @moirawithatrema

On Deena's 17th bday she comes out to her family. Her sister is seen leaping from a cliff. The family is devestated but not surprised - the women of this family are troubled

This is a really fascinating story that navigates the history of women in Ireland - I particularly loved the exploration of queer women in one family's history. This book is a big inspiration for my current WIP, a very important read I think!

Day 30 of the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge2021: your next read inspired by this challenge

I have... So much to catch up on

And that's it for the #ReadIrishWomenChallenge for 2021! I hope that some books in this thread were of interested to you and if you do end up reading them, let me know! Let's chat about books! I miss it so much!